01	Un Posto						03:23
	02	Eh Eh Ah Ah						04:00
	03	Neve Calda						02:55
	04	Ma Ti Aspettero						03:21
	05	Meditazione						03:53
	06	Girotondo						03:15
	07	Incantesimo						06:46
	08	Ti Risveglierai Con Me						02:41
	09	Missione Sirio 2222						09:38

Il Balletto di Bronzo

Discography

Sirio 2222 (1970)
YS (1972)
Trys (1999)

Singles & EPs
YS - English Version EP (1992, recorded 1972)
"La Tua Casa Comoda" (1973)

County Of Origin: Italy
Established: 1969
Styles: Symphonic

Biography

Il Balletto di Bronzo rose out of the ashes of the hard rock band Battitori Selvaggi, initially coming forth with a sound that mixed psychedelia, hard rock and proto-progressive on their debut, Sirio 2222. However, their real moment in the sun would come with the addition of keyboardist Gianni Leone in 1971 (formerly of the pre-Osanna ensemble, Citta Frontale), paving the way for a new compositional style that favored classically inspired arrangements and a distinctly "progressive" rock sound. Indeed, Leone's arrival as the major songwriter paved the way for the group's masterpiece, YS, undoubtedly one of the finest Italian albums of the progressive rock era. Epitomizing a pattern common among many of the Italian groups, Il Balletto di Bronzo vanished after their moment of perfection, parting ways after a final single release in 1973. Gianni Leone would go on to record two solo albums under the name Leo Nero.

In 1992, an EP featuring English versions of tracks from YS popped up courtesy of Italy's Mellow Records, which was followed four years later by a resurrection of the Il Balletto di Bronzo name for a progressive rock festival in Rome. The new incarnation of the band featured Gianni Leone flanked by a new bassist and drummer, and the classic YS was performed in its entirety. This concert was released in 1999 as Trys. This show paved the way for Il Balletto di Bronzo's explosive performance at the North East Art Rock Festival in Bethlehem, Pennslyvania in 2000, whereby a new generation of American fans was converted to the band's sound. The trio is said to be working on original material for a new studio album. - Greg Northrup [January 2002]

Source: NEARfest 2000 Program Guide - Robert LaDuca

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sirio 2222 (1970)

This predecessor to Il Balletto di Bronzo's YS has very little if anything to do with the sound the group would subsequently develop. It's probably even inaccurate to apply the same band name to both releases. Indeed, half of the band would depart after this effort, paving the way for the definitive flair of Gianni Leone's personal mark on the group's later incarnation. A well known phenomenon by now, Sirio 2222 has disappointed many a prog fan expecting an embryonic version of YS. With this in mind, sheer curiosity eventually won out, and not expecting much musically, I thought the album would make at least an interesting historical document if nothing else.

In the end, Sirio 2222 was kinda what I expected, maybe even a little better than I expected, but certainly not an essential album. The sound here is dominated by fuzzed-out guitar, with primary influences seeming to be Jimi Hendrix, Cream and the like. The songs are for the most part straightforward hard rock tunes, with an occasionally pretty, Mediterranean-ish melodic sense coming through, such as on "Mission Sirio 2222", which also contains some of the album's most intense, guitar shredding moments, and the compact, tuneful "Ti Risveglierai con Me", my favorite track here. Nothing spectacular here, although YS devotees with a coincidental affinity for hard rock/psych will likely find something to enjoy. - Greg Northrup [January 2002]

1. Un Posto - 3:20
2. Eh Eh Ah Ah - 3:57
3. Neve Calda - 2:54
4. Ma ti Aspettero - 3:18
5. Meditzatione - 3:51
6. Girotondo - 3:12
7. Incantesimo - 6:45
8. Ti Risveglierai con me - 2:39
9. Missione Sirio 2222 - 9:39

Marco Cecioni - Guitar, Vocals
Miky Cupaiolo - Bass
Gianchi Stinga - Drums
Lino Aiello - Guitar

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ys (1972)

Il Balletto di Bronzo's YS is an unequivocal classic, and stands as one of the very best albums out of Italy, and perhaps among the finest examples of dark, heavy progressive. However, newbies to the Italian scene might want to approach this one with caution, since it can be tougher to get into than some of the other popular Italian works. This was one of the first Italian albums I got, and I was frankly unprepared for it. The pyrotechnic keyboards, thundering rhythms, the angular, punishing guitars and the abrasive vocals made for a work that I found initially dense and unrewarding. For an album that many have hailed as the best progressive rock album of all time, I was a little disappointed. Of course, I've come around by now, and certainly hold this album in high regard as one of the jewels of Italian prog, but that personal anecdote should serve as a caveat for those expecting to be blown away immediately, especially if not particularly predisposed towards the more dissonant branches of progressive rock.

Still,YS is a complete monster. The music on here is thundering, cacophonous and simply unrelenting in its sheer, brute force. This also stands as one of the best keyboard-based albums of all time, as Gianni Leone employs the full range of classic keys, from Hammond, moog and mellotron to piano and harpsichord, pitting them in savage, fiery duels that will absolutely tear your head off. These are contrasted against violent guitar riffs and surging basslines, making for a chaotic, mindbendingly complex ride. The music is punctuated by Leone's caterwauling operatic vocals, which were perhaps the toughest part of the album to get into, but are eventually endearing and nothing if not emotional. Take "Introduzione", an absolute beast of a cut that builds from volcanic climax to climax, as hammonds and moog duel it out for supremacy. Take the opening riff of "Epilogo", a brilliant, arpeggiated theme that simply bursts at the seams with intensity. The entire album is a series of mindblowing passages, with few spots of respite to be found. An indispensable Italian classic, without a doubt. - Greg Northrup [September 2001]

1. Introduzione
2. Primo Incontro
3. Secondo Incontro
4. Terzo Incontro
5. Epilogo

Bonus Track:
6. La Tua Casa Comoda

Vito Manzari - Bass
Gianchi Stringa - Drums
Lino Aiello - Guitar
Gianni Leone - Vocals, Organ, Piano, Mellotron, Moog, Spinetta, Celesta

Polydor Records - 523 693-2 - 1994